A database snapshot in SQL Server provides an instant, read-only view of your data at a specific point in time without blocking the live workload. This post explores how snapshots interact with high-availability technologies—Always On Availability Groups, log shipping, and transactional replication—highlighting that creating a snapshot is always safe but restoring it severs existing sync mechanisms. You’ll learn the steps required to roll back to a snapshot, including AG reseeding, log-shipping reinitialization, or replication re-initialization, and why planning for these operations is essential. The post also covers practical tips on monitoring sparse-file growth and choosing between snapshots and full backups for longer-term retention.
Category: Log Shipping
Saving Time with SQL Server Migrations Using Always On Availability Groups and Log Shipping
Migrating databases to a newer version of SQL Server is a critical task that often comes with challenges, especially when aiming to minimize downtime. Leveraging SQL Server’s Always On Availability Groups and log shipping features allows you to perform most of the migration work in advance, ensuring a seamless transition with minimal impact on your operations. This blog provides a step-by-step approach to migrating from SQL Server 2017 to SQL Server 2022, focusing on efficiency and continuity.